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  • Dubai final preview: Feliciano Lopez vs. Andy Roddick

    3/8/08 5:14 AM | Jonathan Morgan
    - In a surprise final, the two players who have had the most impressive wins this week will face off for the Dubai title.

    Andy Roddick has displayed his old form of the old days with a giant serve and a dominating forehand. Not only that, but he has also added a reliable backhand to his game and smart tactics. You don't beat Nadal and Djokovic back to back in straight sets both times without the above.

    Feliciano Lopez has fought to get to where he is. In his semifinal against Davydenko, it was a complete dogfight the whole way through. He has down 2-5 in the 3rd before winning 5 straight games. He could have and should have lost a bunch of times in that match, but he pulled through it. In earlier rounds, he served big and took out David Ferrer in straights, beat Berdych in straights, and a tough win over Tipsarevic in the first round. All week he has served big but inconsistent, and has clawed his way to some wins, but dominated through others.

    As for the final match-up, they have played 3 times before. Indian Wells 2003 and 2007, and Toronto 2004. Roddick has won all 3 matches, and all in straights sets. Roddick has never been broken in those 3 matches, and in fact only faced one break point over 3 matches. Roddick will have the serious advantage in this match and should overpower Lopez.

    But with the insanity of 2008 thus far with Fed and Nadal playing poor, Djokovic winning the Aussie Open, Stakhovsky and Nishikori winning titles, Darcis winning indoors, and David Nalbandian actually playing and winning optional events, who knows what can happen tomorrow.

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